Do disabled add-ons use resources; is it better to remove them?

Do disabled add-ons use resources? Would removing them completely use less resources? The reason I ask is, I have quite a number of add-ons in the disabled state that I have not removed in case I decide to reactivate/use them again. I was just wondering if having the add-ons associated with the FF software, even in their disabled state, caused Firefox to use any more resources (cpu/ram) than if they were completely removed? If it makes no difference whatsoever in ram/cpu usage if the disabled add-ons are removed or not removed, then I'll just leave them disabled and undeleted. But since my Firefox eats up more and more cpu and memory the longer I use it, I'm interested in getting rid of anything that eats resources, especially if I don't really use them.

I don't think my question is specific to my tech specs, but am using: Windows XP Pro, SP3, and Firefox 9.0.1 (which I intend to upgrade when I finish researching what version is best for me in terms of performance, but especially compatibility with my essential add-ons). Thanks for your time and attention. ~ Zorg54

Do disabled add-ons use resources? Would removing them completely use less resources? The reason I ask is, I have quite a number of add-ons in the disabled state that I have not removed in case I decide to reactivate/use them again. I was just wondering if having the add-ons associated with the FF software, even in their disabled state, caused Firefox to use any more resources (cpu/ram) than if they were completely removed? If it makes no difference whatsoever in ram/cpu usage if the disabled add-ons are removed or not removed, then I'll just leave them disabled and undeleted. But since my Firefox eats up more and more cpu and memory the longer I use it, I'm interested in getting rid of anything that eats resources, especially if I don't really use them.
I don't think my question is specific to my tech specs, but am using: Windows XP Pro, SP3, and Firefox 9.0.1 (which I intend to upgrade when I finish researching what version is best for me in terms of performance, but especially compatibility with my essential add-ons). Thanks for your time and attention. ~ Zorg54

Chosen solution

First, please update to Firefox 20. Firefox 9 is no longer supported or secure, Firefox 20 being the only secure version of Firefox. you need to stay up to date to stay secure. your Add-ons will be updated and work with Firefox 20 when you install it.

Disabled Add-ons are just that, disabled. They don't slow Firefox down anymore than if they were uninstalled. Note that by updating Firefox to 20, there have been improvements to Firefox to not let add-ons slow Firefox down as much as they did in older versions (like 9)

Chosen Solution

First, please update to Firefox 20. Firefox 9 is no longer supported or secure, Firefox 20 being the only secure version of Firefox. you need to stay up to date to stay secure. your Add-ons will be updated and work with Firefox 20 when you install it.

Disabled Add-ons are just that, disabled. They don't slow Firefox down anymore than if they were uninstalled. Note that by updating Firefox to 20, there have been improvements to Firefox to not let add-ons slow Firefox down as much as they did in older versions (like 9)

First, please update to Firefox 20. Firefox 9 is no longer supported or secure, Firefox 20 being the only secure version of Firefox. you need to stay up to date to stay secure. your Add-ons will be updated and work with Firefox 20 when you install it.
Disabled Add-ons are just that, disabled. They don't slow Firefox down anymore than if they were uninstalled. Note that by updating Firefox to 20, there have been improvements to Firefox to not let add-ons slow Firefox down as much as they did in older versions (like 9)

Helpful Reply

Note that Firefox still check for updates even if extensions are disabled, so if you have a lot then you can consider to uninstall them or use more profiles with each profile having specific extensions installed.
Extension also leave non-default prefs on the about:config page page that add to the prefs.js file.

Use the -no-remote command line switch to open another Firefox instance with its own profile and to run different Firefox instances simultaneously, but do not use -no-remote with the default browser and the default profile.

Note that Firefox still check for updates even if extensions are disabled, so if you have a lot then you can consider to uninstall them or use more profiles with each profile having specific extensions installed.
Extension also leave non-default prefs on the <b>about:config</b> page page that add to the prefs.js file.
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Creating_a_new_Firefox_profile_on_Windows
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Shortcut_to_a_specific_profile
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Using_multiple_profiles_-_Firefox
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Bypassing_the_Profile_Manager
Use the -no-remote command line switch to open another Firefox instance with its own profile and to run different Firefox instances simultaneously, but do not use -no-remote with the default browser and the default profile.
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Opening_a_new_instance_of_Firefox_with_another_profile